The Top 10 Finalists of CFDA/'Vogue' Fashion Fund 2019 Are Officially Announced
Including Christopher John Rogers of his eponymous label.
Vogue and the Council of Fashion Designers of America have officially announced the top 10 finalists of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. The designers were handpicked by a well-respected panel of judges including Anna Wintour, Eva Chen, Paloma Elsesser and Diane von Furstenberg among others.
The fund was originally established in 2003 to cultivate emerging design talent here in the United States. The program has included the following past winners: Alexander Wang (2008), Altuzarra (2011), The Elder Statesman (2012), Brock Collection (2016), Telfar (2017) and Pyer Moss (2018).
A standout in this year’s finalists is Christopher John Rogers hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Currently 25 years old, the designer shared with Teen Vogue that his debut release was inspired by his Southern Baptist upbringing. His Fall/Winter 2019 presentation was marked by vibrant design cues including dramatic taffeta pieces, a bold color palette and whimsical ruffles. Recently, Lizzo wore a custom dress by Rogers to the 2019 MTV Movie & TV Awards.
In an official statement, Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour shared additional thoughts on the finalists:
“Our ten finalists are a true reflection of American fashion – and the world – today, speaking to creativity, community, and sustainability. They are following in the footsteps of so many wonderful talents who’ve come before them, and I look forward to seeing what our class of 2019 will do in the months to come.”
According to an official press release, over the next few weeks, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Selection Committee will meet each finalist to review their current collections. This step will also include in-depth interviews and visits to their design studios. A Business Advisory Committee will then review the applications of the finalists to “provide a more focused business perspective” and “targeted feedback.”
The winner and two runner-ups will be announced at a gala dinner alongside a runway show of the finalists’ looks. The gala will be held in New York City on November 4. Lastly, in addition to a year of mentorship from industry insiders, the winner will receive a prize of $400,000 USD, the two runner-ups will take home $150,000 USD each.
Below, take a look at the 10 finalists of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund this year:
Abasi Rosborough, Abdul Abasi and Greg Rosborough
Alejandra Alonso Rojas, Alejandra Alonso Rojas
Barragán, Victor Barragan
Christopher John Rogers, Christopher John Rogers
Collina Strada, Hillary Taymour
Danielle Frankel, Danielle Hirsch
Lou Dallas, Raffaella Hanley
Private Policy, Siying Qu and Haoran Li
Reese Cooper, Reese Cooper
Tre By Natalie Ratabesi, Natalie Ratabesi
